The Learning Incubator: an innovative teaching and learning technology in nursing.

Objective: To understand the meaning of the Learning Incubator as a teaching and learning technology in the nursing area.

Method: Qualitative research, supported by grounded theory. Data was collected from March to November 2019, through interviews with guiding questions and hypotheses directed at two different groups.

Maternal ingestion of cocoa causes constriction of fetal ductus arteriosus in rats.

Maternal consumption of polyphenol-rich foods has been associated with fetal ductus arteriosus constriction (DAC), but safety of chocolate exposure in fetal life has not been studied. This experimental study tested the hypothesis that maternal cocoa consumption in late pregnancy causes fetal DAC, with possible associated antioxidant effects. Pregnant Wistar rats, at the 21st gestational day, received by orogastric tube cocoa (720 mg/Kg) for 12 h, indomethacin (10 mg/Kg), for 8 h, or only water, before cesaren section.

Corrigendum to "Behaviour of the Foramen Ovale Flow in Fetuses with Intrauterine Growth Restriction".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/1496903.].

Behaviour of the Foramen Ovale Flow in Fetuses with Intrauterine Growth Restriction.

Background: Foramen ovale (FO) flow may be altered in IUGR. This study was designed to test this hypothesis.

Methods: Forty pregnant women (24-38 weeks) were divided into 3 groups: group I (IUGR), group II (adequate growth and maternal hypertension), and group III (normal controls).

Metformin effect on TSH in subclinical hypothyroidism: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: Non-randomized trials suggest that metformin may reduce TSH levels through unknown mechanisms.

Objective: To evaluate whether metformin can reduce TSH levels in subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Patients And Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial with 3 months duration that enrolled 48 individuals, between 18 and 65 years, with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Maternal restriction of polyphenols and fetal ductal dynamics in normal pregnancy: an open clinical trial.

Background: We have recently demonstrated reversal of fetal ductal constriction after dietary maternal restriction of polyphenol-rich foods (PRF), due to its inhibitory action on prostaglandin synthesis.

Objective: To test the hyphotesis that normal third trimester fetuses also improve ductus arteriosus dynamics after maternal restriction of polyphenols.

Methods: Open clinical trial with 46 fetuses with gestational age (GA) > 28 weeks submitted to 2 Doppler echocardiographic studies with an interval of at least 2 weeks, being the examiners blinded to maternal dietary habits.

Myocardial velocities, dynamics of the septum primum, and placental dysfunction in fetuses with growth restriction.

Introduction: Diastolic dysfunction may occur in fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and may be assessed by myocardial tissue Doppler (MTD). We previously have shown that excursion index of the septum primum (EISP) is reduced in IUGR fetuses over 30 weeks because of a higher left atrial pressure.

Patients, Setting, And Design: The sample was made up of 14 fetuses with IUGR.

Influence of fetal respiratory movements on left atrial functional status.

Objective: Because fetal respiratory movements increase left ventricular compliance, we hypothesized that the left atrial shortening fraction increases during fetal respiratory motions.

Methods: A group of 26 normal fetuses with gestational ages between 28 and 38 weeks were assessed in a prospective cross-sectional study. Left atrial telesystolic and presystolic diameters were measured during apnea and after five consecutive respiratory movements.

Echocardiographic evaluation during weaning from mechanical ventilation.

Introduction: Echocardiographic, electrocardiographic and other cardiorespiratory variables can change during weaning from mechanical ventilation.

Objectives: To analyze changes in cardiac function, using Doppler echocardiogram, in critical patients during weaning from mechanical ventilation, using two different weaning methods: pressure support ventilation and T-tube; and comparing patient subgroups: success vs. failure in weaning.